Category Archives: Slightly Odd

Moist von Lipwig (yes, that’s his real name) is a con man forced to go straight. His assignment: revive the 20-year-derelict post office in the city of Ankh-Morpork. In what seems to be typical Discworld fashion, shenanigans ensue.

Mail has been replaced by the clacks (a network of semaphore towers). But the clacks are breaking down, the posted letter is making a nostalgic comeback, and Moist’s instinct for showmanship and for raising the stakes pits him against a master con artist operating on a grand scale.

It’s silliness, absurdity and pure fun. It’s commentary on progress and society. And it’s surprisingly engaging. I really cared about Moist and his oddball team, and kept turning pages to see justice done and arch-con Reacher Gilt (we don’t know if that’s his real name) put in his place.

In spinning the tale, Terry Pratchett uses some delightful and very visual turns of phrase. Here are two of my favourites:

It wasn’t a very loud word, but it had an effect rather like that of a drop of black ink in a glass of clear water. the word spread out in coils and tendrils, getting everywhere. It strangled the noise. (p. 450)

It was raining now, a grey, sooty drizzle that was little more than fog with a slight weight problem.” (p. 461)

Going Postal came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. It’s only the second Discworld novel I’ve read, and I’m happy to see how much catching up I have to do. There are almost 40 novels, plus other books about Discworld.

The official Terry Pratchett website has plenty of Discworld resources, including an artist’s rendering of what the Disc itself looks like.